Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Given Neutral Rating at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald reissued their neutral rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $219.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on UHS. Barclays upgraded Universal Health Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the company from $198.00 to $256.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Baird R W upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $215.68 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $227.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $195.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $14.39 billion, a PE ratio of 18.28, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.27.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The company had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.53 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.91 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.37%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 46.8% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,252 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $953,000 after acquiring an additional 1,994 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.3% during the fourth quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,161 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $177,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc grew its position in Universal Health Services by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 16,663 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,540,000 after buying an additional 796 shares during the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its position in Universal Health Services by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 31,763 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,842,000 after buying an additional 1,468 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia raised its position in Universal Health Services by 31.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 7,652 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,166,000 after buying an additional 1,841 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.